From Eighth Grade Passage to f-f-Football?

Can you say “Conflict of Interest?”

Can you say Sensible Auntie and O Quaker Auntie duking it out?

Can you say O Quaker Auntie sitting in Meeting for worship, mentally scrawling on an imaginary chalkboard "I will not make fun of the school mascot. I will not make fun of the school mascot... I will be DARNED grateful Little Sister seems to have gotten over major grumbles about the mere idea of Irrepressible Nephew attending what seems to RantWoman a REALLY GOOD high school choice..I will not make fun of the school mascot. I will not make fun of the school mascot. "

News flash: Irrepressible Nephew apparently wants to play high school football!

 This would not have been an option for his Uncle Rant Brother (or his Auntie RantWoman, who did not care) on medical grounds. But Irrepressible Nephew seems to have inherited his father’s eyes, probably the best of the family lot, no glasses yet for either father or son.

 RantWoman’s dilemma, Grandma RantMom made a comment about well if he does his usual flake out when things get hard thing, we have nothing to worry about.”

RantWoman thinks welllll, if having to keep grades up and  show up regularly to practice gives him structure and community, can we live with the risk of brain injury?

 But back up.

It seems like only last week, RantWoman it was JUNE, when then entire Rant entourage was sitting through middle school passage, speech by principal, commemorative video, parade of students, posing combinations of family members and a buddy for pictures, small piece of data RantWoman just had to FILE.

Graduation pix

Principal talked about moving from NC where anti-bullying legislation did nt make itthrough the legislature to Seattle where one of the first activities people want ed to do was a day of awreness about LGBT students. 

Passage ceremony featured commemorative video summoned painful-to-watch zigzags before Irrepressible Nephew landed at his school in 4^th grade: A really good place for kindergarten, a very attitudinal first grade teacher who did not like her placement for her first job out of college, a mental health professional who thought (Arrrrggggh!) that Little Sister could possibly add homeschooling to her own grueling list of medical appointments, RantMom’s arrival and more than one strand of intense conversations before Little Sister found really nice school with good anti-bullying program and a couple teachers who really clicked with Nephew, wait list for the school where Nephew finished middle school and then Fourth Grade start.

Nephew’s classmates definitely know about the menagerie at home and cheered loudly when it was Nephew’s turn to parade across stage. RantWoman was touched by the social vibe. And in the realm of things falling or not falling through cracks, wellllll, there are matters to hold in the Light.

 RantWoman feels particular appreciation for a number of male teachers, science and gym who seem really to have reached Nephew. The gym teachers always ran activities during breaks. They found ways to pay him for odd jobs. Most of all, someone somehow got Irrepressible Nephew to speak openly and with enthusiasm of Vegetables. (MAYBE summers immersed in Seattle Children's Playgarden also count!)
 

Understand, RantMom and Rant Dad were Eat what’s put in front of you parents. This did NOT include arguing about vegetables. So RantWoman can see some basis for adult rebellion. But RantWoman thinks as an adult Little sister started having teeth prblems early and came to shun any form of vegetable that was not WELL diced AND well-cooked. Thus, ducks were well aligned: Irrepressible Nephew expected the teriyaki place to serve him yakisoba noodles and meat, NO vegetables.
He  trained both his mother and his Grandmother that no vegetable could be consumed if Irrepressible Nephew could recognize it in the food. And miraculously the gym teachers or SOMEONE ignited within Nephew interest in all sorts of actual, intact, recognizable vegetables. This miracle is ALMOST enough to help RantWoman over the hump about endorsing the football idea. Almost.

 RantWoman has fingers crossed. But for what?

 His father was really into soccer, that other futbol.

 But Irrepressible Nephew, one of the 4 giants, 8thgrade boys alrday over 6 feet tall and with size 15 feet to boot wants to play football.

 No, he has never played before. But the team site has this wonderful welcoming invitation.

http://www.garfieldhsfootball.com/

http://www.garfieldhsfootball.com/join-the-team/

And the players in the photos all have the same look of congenial innocence that Irrepressible Nephew wears of late.

Yes, RantWoman for one would prefer he make it at least to his 18^th birthday without flirting with brain injury. But RantWoman appears not to have any choice in the matter. Soooo, in the interest of trying out the idea oneself, a few moments from an internet search.

 Does all of this mean RantWoman might be induced actually to attend a game?

 Umm, during RantWoman’s own high school career, she attended exactly ONE football game and that was because Spanish Club was running the concessions. And RantWoman does not in the least lament that her senior year, the football team had a perfect 0-9 record. With karma like that, would having RantWoman there actually HELP?

The mascot in question:

 

Can you say O Quaker Auntie sitting in Meeting for worship, mentally scrawling on an imaginary chalkboard "I will not make fun of the school mascot. I will not make fun of the school mascot... I will be DARNED grateful Little Sister seems to have gotten over major grumbles about the mere idea of Irrepressible Nephew attending what seems to RantWoman a REALLY GOOD high school choice..I will not make fun of the school mascot. I will not make fun of the school mascot. "

 

And one more item, stored here because it is contemporaneous

The Red Electric Item: Jesus on the Gridiron